Most Potente Potions of Fate

"I see you have made a wise decision... for once, Lucius. You surprise me."

Lucius shuffled in his chair, in a manner most unlike his own.

"As you wish my Lord."

His 'Lord' chuckled. "Yes I do, he will be a valuable addition to our forces. I shall expect to meet him here by tomorrow. Do not fail me again Lucius, or it will be your last chance to even try." Red soulless eyes bored into Lucius' own, asserting their dominance.

Lucius very nearly rolled his eyes, being an evil minion could get so tiring sometimes. "Yes my Lord," he said. "Of course my Lord, would his highness require anything else?"

Voldemort didn't seem to register his sarcastic tone; either that or he ignored it. "Now that you mention it, I was wondering, would you mind making me a five-course meal that I can eat in here? I'm awfully hungry you see."

Lucius stood up, attempting to contain his anger at being treated in such a manner, and he only just succeeded. "Of course my Lord, it would be my pleasure."

Goddamit! Why did I choose this life? Why??

* * *

Mr Dumbledore.

I am writing to you to inform you of my recent displeasure at this school. For reasons I shall not dispense to you, I have decided to remove my son from Hogwarts. I will be here to collect him by tomorrow at the latest.

Yours sincerely,

Lucius Malfoy.

Albus re-folded the piece of parchment he had just received from a very sleek, haughty-looking owl, and almost laughed.

The man most certainly did not mince words.

Even though this had not been completely unexpected, Dumbledore did think a little investigation was needed. Mr Malfoy may not of been his favourite student, but he treated all his students with the same manner. Although stopping Lucius was pointless, talking to Draco was not. Or better yet, the Potions master himself.

By chance, Professor Snape chose that moment to walk in. He barged through the door and walked straight up to Dumbledore's desk.

"Headmaster, it has just been brought to my attention that you have allowed young Malfoy to be removed from this school. Can you explain the meaning of this?"

I see the walls still have ears, thought Dumbledore. "Severus, his father has expressly told me that he is to be removed from this school, what would you suggest I do?" replied Dumbledore calmly, with his eyes twinkling.

God, why are those bloody eyes twinkling every time he looks at you? Its like some sort of flirting trick that he doesn't even realise he is doing, thought Snape.

Professor Snape did not answer him, so Albus merely continued.

"Doubtless you would think of something involving Lucius and a fist, but that's not what I had in mind. Any ideas?"

Snape looked at Dumbledore thoughtfully for a moment. "I think I do have an idea, an idea as to why his father wants him removed anyhow. I think Miss Weasley is involved in this, Albus. May I go and fetch her?"

Dumbledore did not seem at all surprised. It was even possible he knew more than Snape. These things are to be expected where Dumbledore is concerned.

"That would be very helpful of you Severus, thank you." said Albus. "As it is Monday you will find Miss Weasley in a Charms lesson."

Snape did not stay a moment longer. Notions of Miss Weasley and serious punishment ran through his mind... not surprisingly. After all, any mention of a problem and Miss Weasley was bound to be involved - so thought Severus at any rate.

Ten minutes later and a tentative knock sounded at Professor Dumbledore's door. "Yes, Miss Weasley?" called a voice from within.

Ginny opened the door and shuffled in. How did he know it was me? Ginny thought. Creepy old man!

"Ah Miss Weasley," said Dumbledore kindly. "Thank you for coming, please take a seat." He indicated to a big leather chair in front of his desk.

Ooh err, thought Ginny, its like I'm being interviewed all over again. She sat down and turned to Dumbledore expectantly.

He didn't say anything.

Yea, definitely an interview, she thought. "Um, Professor Dumbledore? Are you all right?" She nearly waved her hand in front of his face, but thought better of it.

"Perfectly, thank you Miss Weasley, are you?"

"Excuse me?" said Ginny. "I don't understand Professor."

"I'm not sure I do either," said Dumbledore, steepling his hands and leaning his chin on them. "I am aware that you and Mr Malfoy have been having tutoring sessions together. How has that been going?"

At the mention of Draco's name Ginny's eyes darkened. She sighed. "They are not going exactly as I had hoped they would be, Professor."

Dumbledore's eyebrows rose up very slightly. "How would that be Miss Weasley?"

Ginny sighed again. Pouring my heart out to my Headmaster? This should be amusing.

Albus seemed to sense what she was thinking, that or her emotions were clearly showing on her face. "I am just curious as to how the tutoring is going, Miss Weasley. Professor Snape is positive that you are failing miserably and I wanted to assure him that this cannot be the case."

Ginny immediately scowled, there was only one person worse than Malfoy and that was Snape. So the creep thought she was failing now did he? Yeah, he probably wasn't far off. Malfoy hadn't exactly helped her with her Potions at all he had just messed up her head, like it was a joke.

She scowled even more and said to herself again, "Like it was a joke."

"Miss Weasley?"

She snapped out of her thoughts sharply, and brought her head up to look at Dumbledore.

"Sorry Professor, I didn't sleep well last night. I think Professor Snape might be right about Potions though, I'm not exactly brilliant," she smirked quietly. Could that be anymore of an understatement? As much as she hated to admit defeat, she could probably drag down Malfoy with her, and that could only be a good thing.

"Miss Weasley, have you been spending extra time with Mr Malfoy? More than your allocated tutoring time, say?"

Now that really caught Ginny by surprise, what on earth was he trying to say? "Er, no Professor. I can't say I have. What do you mean by that?"

This seemed to amuse Dumbledore, and made his eyes twinkle even more if that was possible. "I don't mean anything by that Ginny, but I was wondering if you had any idea of the situation Mr Malfoy has been in recently?"

Good, good, thought Ginny. He can actually remember my name. It's nice to know you aren't just another Weasley. The trademark freckles, flaming hair...hot temper...say what?

She had been so preoccupied with her blasted namesake she had completely missed Dumbledore's next sentence. Did she know what 'Mr Malfoy' had been going through recently? Course she bloody didn't, did he think they were emotionally attached or something?

Oh.

He did.

Dammit.

"Uh, Professor Dumbledore, I want to make it perfectly clear that Malfoy and I are not an item. He may've made a complete scene when he presented me with his family pendant last week..." Fake family pendant, Ginny reminded herself. Fake!

"But I do not like him in the slightest, in fact I absolutely hate him." There. That should do it, can't have all these awful rumours floating around.

Dumbledore seemed even more amused. "I wasn't suggesting that in any way Miss Weasley, I simply wanted to know if you knew anything about Mr Malfoy's past. It appears you don't."

Ginny snorted. "What is there to know? Let me guess, his favourite pastime is torturing Muggles in the dungeons with his Father, and his favourite toy would have been a cute little death eater teddy bear. What more is there to it?"

Now Dumbledore did not seem so amused. He was looking at Ginny very carefully, a seemingly calculating look on his features. Then he leaned backwards into his armchair. He was silent for a moment, and the room contained only Ginny's fidgeting and a slight flickering from the candlelight.

Then he spoke.

"Ginny, do you think that someone can be completely evil and never have any hope of redemption?"

Ginny was caught off guard. "Well, what do you mean Professor? Or who do you mean..." she added under her breath.

"Exactly what I say, do you think people are born evil...or made evil?"

"I don't think you can be born evil. I mean how? There's been nothing to make you that way. But yes, I think someone can easily be made evil."

She was so caught up in her own thoughts, she forgot to ask why he was asking her all these odd questions. Completely forgot.

Professor Dumbledore seemed satisfied with this answer, and he leaned towards her again.

"I agree with you, but how would you say people are made evil?"

Now Ginny was getting a little unnerved. "I... I don't know. Through mistreatment or something, or pressure and guilt, or wanting revenge. Lots of ways."

"Indeed, do you think it could be influences on that person, parents, say?"

"Uh yeah, I suppose so," said Ginny, getting slightly annoyed.

"Would you--" he didn't get to finish because Ginny suddenly stood up and glared at him, looking like she was about to say something. But then she remembered who he was, and quickly sat down again.

"Um, sorry, Professor. But I really don't understand. Why are you asking me all these things?"

"Because you care about Draco Malfoy."

"WHAT? Are you mad? You old, freaky, scary man! I in NO WAY care about Draco Malfoy. He is a bloody minion of evil. I don't care that he has this soft blond hair, and silver eyes or, or..." Ginny trailed off.

"I don't care about Draco Malfoy," she said determinedly.

Dumbledore had reverted to his usual twinkling-eyes state and was quietly sitting at his desk, tapping his pen, whilst he waited for Ginny's outburst to finish.

"Would you be at all concerned or interested if I was to tell you the sort of life he has led? The things he has been through?"

"No." said Ginny. "Well, only a little bit."

Albus smiled. "Draco may seem like a heartless, what did you say? Ah yes, a heartless evil minion but I think you would be surprised if you knew more about him."

Ginny was silent, so Dumbledore continued.

"Draco has never been hurt physically by his family, not that I know anyway. But he hasn't had the sort of life you would expect him to. His parents have always lavished him with endless supplies of money and sweets, as I'm sure you have seen at breakfast when the post is delivered. But they have never shown him love, helped him, or taught him things that every child needs to learn."

He stopped and looked intensely at Ginny, before continuing again. "Can you imagine, Miss Weasley, expected to grow up just the way your parents want you to - to be a Death eater? To have no choice in the matter of how you live your life? What you wanted to grow up as, or do the things you really wanted to, but you aren't allowed to? I think I am pretty accurate when I say you have not lived that life. Your parents will always let you live how you wish if it is what you desire, isn't that right?"

Ginny was going to spout off some comment, about 'yeah, but he doesn't want that.' When she actually stopped to think. But what if he did? What if he really did want those things? But then she remembered. This is Malfoy we are talking about, nice try Dumbledore.

She didn't say that though, she didn't dare. "Yes Professor, I think I understand."

It was clear to Dumbledore she didn't understand, but there was no more to say. Doubtless she would realise when she was meant to and what she was meant to. He could only guide her in the right direction.

"All right, Miss Weasley. That will be all. Don't worry about the remainder of your Charms lesson. Your next lesson shall be starting soon, Divination I believe. You can hurry along to that."

Ginny groaned. Divination was the last thing she wanted now. But, wait... why had she come here in the first place? Hadn't this whole 'talk' with Dumbledore been completely pointless and unimportant?

Dumbledore was up to his old emotion sensing tricks again and he spoke before she could ask. "All in good time, Miss Weasley. Be patient."

A very confused Ginny got up from her chair and slowly made her way to the door. Just as she was about to open it Dumbledore spoke again. "This talk may come in use for you Miss Weasley, so remember what you have said."

She nodded and quietly shut the door behind her. "Right," she said. "Well, if ever there was a completely weird old man, it's that one."

Astonishingly she actually heard a chuckle emanating from behind her. She shook her head bemusedly and set off for Divination.

Ginny had no idea why, but she never got to the Divination Tower. She found herself several floors lower than that, by the Slytherin Dungeons in fact.

She looked around herself in amazement. How on earth had she found herself down here? She didn't even know the way. She was about to hurry off and get away from here as quickly as possible when she heard a trademark Slytherin drawl behind her.

"Looking for that Potions partner of yours, Weasley?"

She whipped around.

There stood Ridfain Avery, leaning casually (or so he thought) on the wall beside the entrance to the Slytherin common room. His dark hair and tanned skin almost blended in with the wall and shadows, making him look particularly sinister - to anyone but Ginny anyhow.

"Yeah Avery, what the hell do you want?"

He smirked at her, eyeing her form appreciatively. "Oh snap out of it," she groaned exasperatedly. "And tell me what you want."

"Now, now Weasley, that attitude won't get you anywhere..."

"Yeah, but it'll get you a kick up the backside," murmured Ginny.

He looked at her with contempt. "Fair enough Weasley, if that's the way you want it. Are you looking for Malfoy by any chance?"

"No," she said. Ooh, smart one Ginny! She thought.

"That's just as well really," continued Avery. "Because you won't find him."

She rolled her eyes at him. "What do you mean Avery? Has he mysteriously disappeared from the school or something?"

Ridfain laughed. "You could say that. He won't be coming back anytime soon anyway."

"Whatever Avery, I have things to do get out of my way." He had moved to block her path away from him, and had rested his arm on the wall, trapping her between him and stone. Not a position she wanted to be in.

She shoved his chest hard and ducked away from him as fast as she could. He didn't try to stop her he simply spoke, very calmly and softly, in a voice that sent shivers down her spine.

"He's been removed from the school, Weasley. He isn't coming back. That scum of a Malfoy is gone from Hogwarts in disgrace, expelled forever."

SMACK! Ginny's hand flew through the air and landed forcefully on Ridfain's cheek. Before he had time to react, and she had time register what she was saying, she had grabbed him by the robes and brought her face up close.

"Draco is not scum, and you know it. You are just jealous, he is more of a man than you could ever be."

And that was that. She strode away leaving Avery completely stunned, so much so he didn't call anything after her like 'and I bet you know how much of a man he is don't you?' He had to content himself with muttering angrily about stupid Muggle-lovers.

Ginny couldn't believe what she had just done. She had actually slapped Avery and in defence for Draco as well! What was going on with her? She didn't think she wanted to know.

But there were much more important things to worry about than that. Why had Draco--, no Malfoy, she corrected herself. Why had Malfoy left the school? He couldn't have been expelled, Dumbledore would've told her. She had to find out what was going on, because it was all getting far too surreal for her liking.

With that thought in mind she walked up to her dorm, determined to figure what the hell was going on.

But right now and more importantly as well, she was bloody exhausted. Forgetting Divination and lessons for the day completely, she kicked off her shoes and crawled into her comfy four-poster bed, intent on sleeping all her problems away.

Because that was exactly what Dra--Malfoy would have done.